One single gunshot rang throughout the base. It broke the silence that build up in the moments after the message died.
Thorann's head shot up with the noise, and before Doc, or the recruit could say anything, he was gone. He charged through the door of the small building and back into the wet marsh that swallowed the base.
Another shot rang out. It was Lags. He knew that much, but could not see him. He charged in the direction of the noise.
"Thorann!" Triples voice called through his wrist-link. "Triskani coming from the water!" He continued. "Will I shoot?"
"Open fire!" Thorann commanded as he ran to one of the half submerged walls at the northern end of the small base.
As he reached them, the ship circled overhead and gunfire cut through the air. Most of the shots landed in the water, a mist of murky liquid coated their surroundings and globs of sludge rained down.
He peered over the wall and could see bodies. Scaley creatures, some of which cut in half by Triples shots. The ship continued to circle the base, leaving the water still once more. The dead floated on top and nothing stirred. Another shot. This one received an answer in kind. From the calm tide came bullets. He took cover as the bullets pinged against the barrier.
Doc climbed the stairs, followed closely by the recruit. "How many are there?" He asked as he reached Thorann. He was hunched over, but threatened to look beyond their cover.
"I have no idea, the water conceals their numbers," Thorann replied.
The shots stopped for a moment, and he launched to his feet, turning to fire blindly into the water. As he did, he was joined by Doc. It was hard to tell if they hit anything. After a few moments, he ducked down once more as they returned fire.
"Lags, can you see anything?" Thorann shouted into his wrist link, unsure of his location.
"Three in the water." Lags replied. "Two more are trying to flank us." He continued, his voice cold. "There are more than that out there."
"Well, thanks for that," Doc said in a frustrated tone, as he reloaded. "What do we do? Seems like the only one with an eye on the situation would rather be cryptic." Doc complained.
"We can't just fire blind into a swamp." Thorann reasoned as he raised his wrist link. "Lags, don't let them flank us."
"Copy."
"Triple, on your next fly over secure the shore line for us." Thorann said.
"Will do," Triple let out a laugh at the end.
Thorann took in a deep breath and stayed with his back against the wall. The ping of bullets on steel rang through his head, stopping his mind from settling. He was calm though, as calm as he could be anyway. He had an idea. The sounds of the engines grew louder over head, and he looked up to see Tera coming back around. The shots rained from Triples turret, and he could almost hear the brute laughing as he fired. Something from the thick fog caught his eye. Waves of flesh in the distance. It seemed to be much larger than the ship, and it grew larger still at an alarming rate.
"What is that?" The recruit asked, his voice was low, almost too low compared to the sounds of gunfire from the sky.
Thorann didn't answer. He couldn't. He was as confused as the recruit. He wanted to say something but no words came out. No thoughts either. He could only watch as the thing got closer to the ship. A flap of air blew the fog clear. Its wings clapped and then retracted. It dived faster than it had flown. The thing came into full view. It was a deep red, but all details were blurred by its momentum. The thing collided with Tera and with that, the streak of shots jerked. Instead of hitting the shore line, they instead splintered the trees that surrounded them.
Thorann looked at the immense branches hanging over them, which rocked violently. "Run!" He finally found his voice as he lunged to the edge of the wall, and dived.
He streaked through the mud, almost sinking into it. Instead of rolling like he aimed to do, he landed face down in the dirt and slid. The sounds of the recruit and Doc splatting against the ground was apparent. On his hands and knees he scrambled forward, followed closely by the other two. On his feet he looked back. Tera and the creature were entwined as they disappeared behind the walls, buildings and thick foliage.
"What is going on up there?" He asked and as he did the gunfire started once more.
Like a clap of thunder, the ship came overhead. The creature gnawed and slashed as chunks of debris rained from the sky. Thorann had to cover his face from the heat of the engines as they passed by.
"I'm loosing control!" Bird shouted. "I have to land!"
"You heard her." Thorann shouted as he readied his weapon and looked back at Doc.
"I'm with you Thorann, lead the way." He said.
Thorann didn't think twice before charging in the direction the ship went. It disappeared behind some of the half submerged buildings to the south of the base.
